Praise The Lord!

Do you ever have one of those days? Maybe the alarm clock failed to alarm, or the power went off before the coffee was made? The driver in front of you is so slow; it seems he’s actually trying to wait for the light to turn red?Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, we must admit that we are simply not in control.

In those times, we would do well to acknowledge that God is in control, and learn to rejoice in whatever He does.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

In fact, God is always in control. As we work this understanding of life into our heart and mind, it affects our approach to all of life and determines our response to whatever circumstances come our way. We learn to live life – in the words of author Dallas Willard – “without hurry or worry.”

That is not to say that we have no responsibility. As we grow in our trust and confidence in God, we find that He entrusts much to us.

This, in turn, means that we have and accept ever greater responsibility. We must order our lives in a manner that reflects well on our Heavenly Father, taking responsibility where it is expected.
Even beyond our actions and attitudes, we are sometimes required to help others be responsible. The scriptures requires that we “speak the truth” (Ephesians 4:25) “with grace” (Colossians 4:6) and sometimes that we “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). Our responsibilities are many and varied, and we cannot shirk them by simply saying that “God will take care of it.”

But, when we have been faithful and have – from a heart of love, a desire to do right, and an attitude of dependence on God – done what we can and should have done, there are still ample opportunities for things to appear completely out of control; there will still be those apparently random times when our plans don’t work, when those around us just don’t cooperate, or when an appropriately named “act of God” interjects itself into our life.

In those times – especially in those times – we should be calm, breathe deeply, relax, and see what God is doing. Quote or sing David’s words, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Psalm 103) Those kinds of times are when God is saying to us, like He said to Moses trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14:13) Those are the times when we demonstrate what we really believe about our world and Who is really in charge.

Because God really is in control.